Bag-machine.



No. 69U,49|. Patented lan. 77 |902.

G. R. WARD. BAG-MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 3, 1900.)

4 Sheets-'Sheet l,

(No Model.)

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ATTORNEY L nu olv la n. a ..1 d e t .n e ...l a. P D. nn A w nn. Gm m 41! 0 9 6 0. N

B A G M A C H I N E.

(Application led Dec. 3, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet '2.

(No Model.)

ATTORNEY Patented Ian. 7, |902.

No. $90,451:.V

' a. n. wAn.

BAG MACHINE.

(Application B led Dec. B, 1900.)

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-wgNEssEs= um? ma? No. 690,49l. v F'a'fendV l'an. 7, |902'.

I G. R.- WARD. l

'BAG MACHINE. (Application ledDec. 3, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Shevetl (No Modei.)

' l A vEToR I sents a side elevation.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE `R. WARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES F. COBURN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BAG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,491, dated January 7, 1902 Application fled December 3, 1900. Serial No. 38,413. (No model.)

To all whom, it 11mg concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. WARD,'a citizen of the United States, residing at New' York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag- Machines, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to bagffolding machines; and my object is to provideaconstruction which will receive a bag and fold the same in the manner desired. It is desirable in a completed bag that when the same is filled with material or distended by the air it should automatically assume a rectangular form and its bottom also have an angular, preferably a rectangular, form.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine which will so fold a bag that the bottom of the same will when the bag is distended in use automatically assume the square-bottomed shape.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings I have provided a machine which will receivea bellows-folded bag in a flattened condition, distend part of the same, and fold the corners at the bottom of the bag backward between the plies, whereby the bottom of the bag will automatically assume a rect-angular'form when the same is filled.

Other advantages of my inventiom will be apparent, and my invention will be more particularly defined in the claims.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, Figure 1 repre- Fig. 2 is a similar view with the side frame and one cam-wheel removed, showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2, the folding device being in a slightly-different position. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the rear set of rolls, parts being in section and others being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a detail section view on the line C D of Fig. 1 with the rolls in a slightlyadvanced position. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail side elevations of parts of the rear rolls and adjacent parts, showing a bellows-folded bag being operated upon. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the bag after the plies have been distended into their vertical position, as shown machine.

in Fig. 13, the central part D of the bag still being held flat. Fig. 9 is a plan View showing the folder in its position after having vfolded. the plies downward into the position shown in perspective in Fig. 14. Fig. 10 isa View of the bag after the corners have been folded in and the plies folded down over them, as shown in Fig. 15. Figs.,1l to 15 are perspective views of the bag in the different steps of its manipulation, Fig. 11 being a perspective view of a bellows-folded bag as it is received by the machine in its attened condition. Fig. 12 shows the bag with its plies slightly distended,` the central portion being still held fiat. Fig. 13 shows the bag with the plies completely distended. Fig. 14 shows the bag after the plies have been folded toward each other over the folded-in corners and corresponds to Fig. 9, and Fig.15 shows a completely-folded bag as delivered by the Fig. 16 is a perspective View of the reciprocating folder and a bag in the position in which the corners are being folded inward between the plies.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, 1 is the base, and 2 2 are the sides, of the frame of the machine.

My invention is particularly intended for folding a common bellows-folded bag; but it may be used with other forms of bag, if desired. The drawings show a roll, preferably a plurality of rolls 3 3, between which the bottom end of the bag is received and by which the bagis fed'forward to the distending means, including in this embodiment a suction device, which is adapted to contact with the bag to distend the same. In the present ernbodiment there are a pair of suction devices for each roll. One of these suction devices may be located on each side of each roll and be rotatable with the roll. I prefer to Vform the suction devices by the extensions 4 4t, which are hollowed out and connect with the hollowed portion in of the rolls and the hollow shafts 1 and l, which carry the rolls. The hollowed extensions 4 are provided with preferably a plurality of suction-apertures 4b in the periphery.

As the bottom end of the bag is fed forward -to the rolls the rolls are rotated in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 1 and grasp the bag and feed it forward. I preferably form the rolls 3 comparatively narrow, so that they will hold only the central portion of the bag inasubstantially flattened condition. By flattened I do not mean that the bag must necessarily be absolutely flat, but only that it should not be fully distended, and by the word bag I mean to include also a bagtube, whether or not the bottom has already been closed. As the rolls are rotated from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 5, the extensions 4 will overlap the plies of the bag and the apertures 4b will be closed by said plies. If nowv air is exhausted from said rolls, theplies of the bag will cling to the extensions 4, and as the roll is further rotated to the position shown in Fig. 6 the bag will-be carried forward and simultaneouslyv the plies will be distended, as shown. In Fig. 1` I have shown a suction-pump which can be connected to the hollowed rolls 1 and 1 forso exhausting the air; but obviously any suitable means for accomplishing this result will suffice. In Fig. 1, 26 is the cylinder in which moves the piston 27, driven by pistonrod 28. 29 is a tube which may be connected to the open end of hollow shafts 1 and 1a for exhausting the air from the rolls. This pump may be worked by hand or by asuitable connection with the machine, if desired. The space between the piston and the head of the cylinder will form avacuum-chamber; but I mean by vacuum-chamber7 to include any space from which the air has been partially exhausted.y

As the lower portion of the bag leaves the bite of the rolls the central portion D (see Figs. 8 and 12) enters between the guideways 4C 4, (see Figs. 2'and 6,) which hold the central part of the bag in a substantially flattened condition. In order to assist in distending the plies of the bag, I have provided means rotatable with the roll and adapted to engage the plies of the bag and accomplish this result. In the present embodimentithis consists ofdistending-ngers 7 7, one of the same located on each'side of each roll. These distending-fingers are preferably formed in the shape shown in the drawings; but it will be obvious that the shape is not material to myinvention. In the present embodiment these fingers are fixed to collars 6 6 on the shafts l 1a and are provided with feathers 6 6, which slide in a feather-way 6b on each shaft. Bysuch-a construction the fingers may move inward toward each other and also rotate-with the rolls. To accomplish the laterall movement ofthe collars 6,1 have provided armsl 9 9, pivoted to the shaft 9a and carrying roller-studs 8 8, which are located in grooves iny the face of the collars. The lower arms 9 (see Fig. 1) are extended beyond the pivots into lever-arms l2, carrying vrollerstuds 13, which engage with camfgrooves 13 (see Fig.. 3) in the face of cam-rollers 14 15, mounted upon the drivingshaft .19."l These cam-grooves are so timed that as the yrolls move forward and upward from the position showndn Fig. V5 toward that shown in Fig. 6 the levers 12 will throw the ngers 7 inward. They will thus enter between the plies at each side of the bag at the rear of the suction-chambers 4, as shown in Fig. 6, and as the rolls are further advanced the plies Will be distended from the position shown in Figs. 6 and 12 toward that shown in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

I prefer that my machine should receive and act upon the bags as they come from the bag -forming machine having the bottom newly formed. When a bag is received in this condition, the paste will not yet be dried and the transverse seam C (shown in Fig. 11) will be liable to be pulled apart by this drawing apart of the plies if some pressure is not applied to the bottom to turn the corners back tothe position shown in Fig. 13. 'lo assist in turning back the corners and preferably also to press upon the bottom-seam, I

have provided a rearwardly-moving foldingA device to assist in folding back the corners. This may consist of a pair of plates23 23, having inwardly-inclined and longitudinallygrooved faces, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, .and 16. These plates 23 receive the corners of the bottom of the bag (shown in Fig. 11) within the grooved faces of the folder, (shown in Fig. 2,) and as the folding device is moved farther backward the plates will turn in the corners (see Figs. 12 and 16) to the position shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 13, at thesame time pressing upon the transverse seam of the bottom. In order to then turnthe plies'from the position shown in Fig. 13 down upon these corners to the vpositions shownin Figs. 14 and 15, I have provided inwardlyfturned prongs V24, which will receive the inclined edges E, Fig. 9, of the plies and turn them down, as shown in Figs. 9 and'l, to the flattened condition shown in Fig. 15. The backward-andforward movement of the folding device is in this embodiment accomplished byattaching the rear ends of prongs 24 to the rear end of a bar This bar terminates at its rear end in a fork 22L 22", Fig. 2, through which the bottom end of the Ybag passes. The upper pair of prongs 24 are attached at their rear ends to the rear end of the upper tine 22b (see Figs. 2, 3, and 9) and extend outwardly and downwardly. The lower part of prongs are attached to the lower tine 22:L and extend outwardly and upwardly. Bridges 24, Figs. 2.

and 4, connect the upper and lower prongs at each side, and to these bridges are attached the plates 23, Fig. 4. Bar 22 slides upon driving-shaft 19, as shown in Fig. 2, and has a roller-stud 25 engaging with a cam-groove 20 in the perpendicularface of the eam-wheel IIO ately start the folding device in its backward traverse. v

In the present embodiment of my device the folded bag is not passed out of the machine at its forward end; but the bag after being folded as specified is moved backward by the backward rotation of the rolls 3 3 and delivered at the rear of the machine, where it entered. This is the preferable construction; but I do not desire to be limited to this feature. This rearward motion of the rolls, as well as the forward movement of the same, is controlled by gear-wheels 16 on shafts 1 and 1a meshing with racks on the reciprocating arm 18, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) which slides inguideways 18", Fig. 3, on the frame and carries atits forward end a roller-stud 21, located in the cam-groove 21, Fig. 2, in the outer perpendicular face of the cam-wheel 15. In the present embodiment this cam-groove 2l is so formed that the rolls 3 3 remain in the position shown in Fig. 2 during part or all of the rearward movement of the folding device and then rotate backward to carry said bag backward, asshown in Fig. 7. While this operation has been going on the camgrooves 13a, Fig. 3, have withdrawn the distending-ngers 7 from between the plies, and as the rolls rotate backward from the position shown in Fig. 7 the extensions 4 of the rolls will press down the plies and compress the corners so that the folds F, Figs. 13, 14, and 15, will be clearly defined, so that when the bag is distended it will tend to assume the rectangular-bottomed form.

It will be obvious that many changes may be made in the constructions herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of -my invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to the embodiment herein shown and described. f

1. In a bag-machine in combination, a rotatable suction device adapted to contact with a attened completed bellows folded bag, means to exhaust the air from said suction device and rotate the same whereby said bag is distended at its bottom, means rotatable on substantially the same axis with said suction device and adapted to engage said bag and assist in distending the same, and means to fold the corners of said bag backward between the plies thereof.

2. In a bag-machine in combination, a set of rotatable suction devices adapted to receive between them a completed bellows-folded bag, means to exhaust air from said suction devices and means to rotate the same whereby said bag may be distended at its bottom, and a rearwardly-moving folder to then fold part of said distended bottom backward between the plies of said bag.

3. In a bag-machine in combination, a set of rotatable suction devices, adapted to receive between them a completed bellows-folded bag, means to exhaust air from said suction devices and means to rotate the same whereby said bag may be distended at its bottom, and a reciprocating folder to then fold the corners of said distended bottom backward between the plies of said bag.

4. In a bag-machine in combination, a set of oscillating rolls provided with suction devices and adapted to receive between them a bellows-folded bag, means to exhaust air from said suction devices and means to rotate said rolls to carry said bag forward and distend the same, and a rearwardly-moving folder to fold the corners of said bag backward between the pliesthereof.

5. In a bag-machine in combination, a set of oscillating rolls provided with suction devices rotatable therewith and adapted to receive between them a attened bellows-folded bag, means to exhaust. air from said suction devices and means to rotate said rolls whereby said bag is fed forward and distended at its bottom, a reciprocating folder adapted to fold the corners of said bag backward between the plies thereof, and means to rotate said rolls backward to carry said folded bag backward to deliver the same.

6. In a bag-folding machine incombination, a set of rolls adapted to feed forward a bellows-folded bag, means rotatable with said rolls and adapted to contact with said bag and distend the plies of the same at its bottom, a stationary guide to receive the longitudinally-central portion of said bag as it leaves said rolls and hold the same in a substantially flattened condition, while the plies are distended, anda reciprocating folder to fold the corners of the bottom of said bag backward between the plies thereof.

7. In a bag-folding machine in combina IOO tion, a roll, means to rotate the same in one direction to assist in carryingabag forward,

means to distend the bag at its bottom and IIO 9. In a bag-folding machine in combination, a roll, means to rotate the same in one direction to assist in carrying a bag forward, means rotatable with said roll to distend the bag at its bottom, a folding device to fold backward a part of the distended portion, and means to automatically rotate said roll backward to carry said folded bag backward to deliver the same.

10. In a bag-folding machine in combinai tion a roll, means to rotate the same in one direction to assist in carryinga bag forward, l

vmeans including a suction device rotatable I withsaid roll to distend-the bag at its bottom,

afold'ingideviceto fold backward a= partv of" the distended p ortion, and means to auto-- matically rotate said' roll backward' to carry sa-i'dlfolded bag backward tovdeliver the same.

11. In a-bagfolding machine in combina-V ton-a roll, meansto-lo'tate the samein onek direction: to assist in carrying abagfforwa'rd, means to distend the bagyay folder, and meanstomove'said folder backward and foldv thecorners-ofthe bag backward and between the pliesof'the bag;

of the-pliesofsaid bag, means torotate said rolls forward tocarrysaid bag' forward and'VV mea-nsto =eXl1anstv the lair fromi said' hollowed portionitddi'stend said bag, means tofoldf one-cornerof vsaid baglbackwardandibetween*- the A'plieeofi the-bag, and .means tothen 'ro-- tate saidfrollsb'ackeward todeliver saidloag.V

14. In.a-bagfolding machine in combina tionf means-1 tol feed forward and dstenda part-of the vbottom of a bellows-folded bag; al

rearwardllylmoving.folding device adaptedto' fold-backward the-corners ofsaid bag', and meansto fold down thepliesoversaidfolded: corners.-

15.- In al bagfolding machine'in combination'm'eansto' feed forward anddistendY a part of the' bottom endof-a bellows-foldedbag, a

rearwardly-moving folding device adapted to foldI backward the cornersofsaid bag, andmea-ns,A also^carried by said rearwa-rdlyemov# ing folder, to'fold downthe'- plies over 'said folded'corners.

16. Ina bag-machine in-combinationla set ofvoscillating rolls adapted to'receive' betweenu them a bellows-folded'baga-nd hold the central portion in a substantially flattened condition, suction-chambers rotatablefvwith said7 f rolls' and extending laterally at each s-ide of leach roll at the-periphery thereof and adapt-y ed lto contact with the plies near the bottom of the bag, means to rotate said rolls so that the contact-snrfaces-move forward, meansto exhaust the air from said snctio'n-chambersto vdistend' the-plies of saidbagwwhilethe central portion off'said bag is held ina substantially iattened condition, distendingfl'n,gers4 to as- .sist in distending,` sai'd plies,- a rearwardlyj movingI folder toff'old' back theco'rners of saidv bag, and` means to rotate said rollsbackward to deliver said bag. 12. In a bag-folding machine in'vcoinfbina'-y f 17'. In'V aba'g-folding machine in combination, a rolladapted to hold aportion of a bellows-folded' bag'in4 aV attened condition and feed the sameA forward, distending.- fingers, meanstoinsertf'said fingers within the plies of said baglnear the bottom of said bag and move said flngersrapartlto distend said plies atthe bottom" of" sa-idlbag', and a rearwardlymoving folder, movable independently of said roll, and adapted to pressupon't-he -bottom'of said ba'gto-turn back a part of saidlbott'om whilel said' lingers-are*dist-ending` saidl plies.l

18. In av bag-folding machinein'combination, a pair/of rolls'adaptedtoreceive between 'thema bellows-folded bag, meansto'rotate -the'same-to feedv forward said'bag, means to distend the bottom-of the same, a folding device to foldlthe cornersof the bag between the plies-thereof, and'means-to reversefsa'id rolls and ca-rrysaidv bagj backward to deliver the same.

19. Ina bag-folding,r machine incoxnbination, a pair of rolls adapted-to receive between them abellows-folded bag; means to rotate the-same'to feed forwardsaidbag, means-'to `distend the bottom of the same, afreciprocating folding device to fold the corners of the bag betweenthe plies thereof, and means to reverse said rolls and carry said bag backward to deliver the same.

20. Ina brag-folding'l machinefinl combination, a pair ofy rotatable suction devicesad apted to receive' between themy a bellows-folded bag, meansV to rotate the same to feed said bagforwardanddistend the same at its bot'- tom, a folding'device adapted to fold the corners of thebag'between the plies thereof and meansto reverse saidsuction devices to 'carry' said bag backward to deliverthe same;

Signed at New York, N. Y., this 26th=d`ay of November, 1900.

GEORGE R.. VARD.

Witnesses:

EMERSON R. NEWELL, JOSEPH E. DIAMOND.

IOC)

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